News release

ConAgra Foods announces community effort exceeded goal and raised more than 1.1 million meals to help Shine the Light on Hunger

OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 21, 2013—ConAgra Foods, Inc., announced today that, with the help of the community, this year’s goal of raising 1.1 million meals for the hungry through the sixth annual Shine the Light on Hunger campaign has not only been reached, but surpassed. This year’s campaign achieved unprecedented results; including a matching grant from ConAgra Foods, the community raised the equivalent of close to 1.5 million meals through both in-kind and cash donations to Food Bank for the Heartland. In recognition of the community’s accomplishment, ConAgra Foods lit the top of its iconic “food barrel tree” located on the ConAgra Foods campus at the corner of 10th and Farnam Streets.

“Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re able to make a difference for our neighbors who no longer need to wonder where their next meal will come from or whether they’ll even be getting a meal,” said Chris Kircher, vice president of corporate affairs and president of the ConAgra Foods Foundation. “ConAgra Foods would like to thank everyone – individuals, businesses and non-profits – who came together to make this year’s Shine the Light on Hunger campaign such a success.”

The focal point of the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign was the ConAgra Foods ice skating rink. More than 18,000 skaters took to the ice this year, raising funds for the campaign through admission and concession sales. The ConAgra Foods Foundation matched donations to Food Bank for the Heartland dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000. Each dollar raised equates to three meals for those in need. In addition, community members donated more than 145,000 pounds of food to Food Bank for the Heartland. When combined with donations from other community efforts, these results exceeded this year’s goal and surpassed previous year’s campaign efforts.

“The nearly 1.5 million meals raised by the community truly makes a big difference and couldn’t come at a better time,” said Susan Ogborn, president and CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland. “During this challenging economic time, the need in our community is greater than ever. We are so grateful for this support and the commitment it shows to eliminating hunger in Nebraska and Iowa.”

Omaha’s nonprofit organization, Food Bank for the Heartland, will distribute more than 11 million pounds of food and household products to families in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa this year. Food Bank for the Heartland works with 375 agencies to benefit those in need. Today, more than 92,000 children in the 93 counties served by Food Bank for the Heartland struggle, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011. Douglas County has the most children at risk for hunger (26,970) followed by Sarpy County (7,600) in Nebraska, and Woodbury County in Iowa.

About ConAgra Foods

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is one of North America's leading food companies, with brands in 97 percent of America’s households. Consumers find Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Hebrew National, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack and many other ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.